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Packers will extend Lambeau Field shutdown until late April

The Green Bay Packers closed Lambeau Field have extended the closure of Lambeau Field to April 24.(Photo: Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

GREEN BAY – Lambeau Field will remain closed until April 24.

The team said Thursday that Lambeau Field and team-run operations at Titletown District will remain closed as Wisconsin residents are asked to avoid gathering in public in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lambeau Field and Titletown District operations were closed March 13 as a response to coronavirus concerns. Since then, the virus has spread increasingly across the country, and is now reported in all 50 states.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers earlier this week issued a "Safer at Home" order directing people to stay at home as much as possible until April 24.

“Packers Pro Shop online operations will continue under the state’s order as it is a business that ships goods to end users with an operating staff that can safely meet social distancing requirements," the team said.

Operations that are closed include the Packers Pro Shop store, Packers Hall of Fame museum and 1919 Kitchen & Tap, as well as all team-run public activities in Titletown, including the playground and 46 Below cafe, as well as The Turn restaurant.

The NFL this week directed teams to close their facilities until at least April 8. Exceptions include trainers and players receiving treatment, security and maintenance workers, and certain information technology staff.

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A lone individual walks the steps outside Lambeau Field on March 20 in Green Bay . Lambeau Field Atrium businesses, including the Packers Pro Shop, Packers Hall of Fame and 1919 Kitchen & Tap, are temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Teams are allowed to conduct normal business operations, including signing players and evaluating players for the NFL draft on April 23-25.

But whether the Packers will be able to run their draft from their Lambeau Field offices remains unclear.

In a memo issued Thursday evening, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated that the draft dates will not be moved and notified teams they “should be doing the necessary planning to conduct Draft operations in a location outside of your facility, with a limited number of people present, and with sufficient technology resources to....communicate with other clubs and Draft headquarters.”

The league had already called off all public events for the draft, scheduled for Las Vegas. The draft will likely be primarily a studio event.

That decision could affect the Packers' effort to host the draft as early as 2022. The NFL has not said if it would give Las Vegas another chance to host the draft. At least one report said Las Vegas, the new home of the Raiders, could be considered for a Super Bowl during the next five or six years.

Cleveland is scheduled to host the draft in 2021 and Kansas City in 2023. The Packers have been seeking to host in 2022 or 2024 and beyond.

Contact Richard Ryman at (920) 431-8342 or rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG/